Step-by-step mechanism.



M. (I. DONER. STEP-BSLSTBP MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN.15,1912. RENEWED FEB. 13, 1914. 51 D Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

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.M. J. DONER. STEP-BY-STEP MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 1,111.15, 1912. RENEWED FEB.18, 1914.

1,1 10,751 Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

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TlNTTED STATES PATENT MARTIN J. DONEB, OF GHICAGQ, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO C. F. DYNES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEP-BY-STEP MECHANISM.

Original application filed November 2, 1903, Serial No. 468,461.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 15, 1914:.

Divided and this application filed January 15, 1912, Serial No. 671,264. Renewed February 13, 1914. Serial No. 818,608.

tion of an original application filed Novem-- her 2nd, 1908, by me on automatic signs, Serial No. 460,461 which has matured into Patent No.,1,019,770.

This invention relates to improvements in step by step mechanism and has for its salient object to provide a construction in which an actuated member is moved a given number of steps in one direction, the mech anism then automatically reversed and the actuated member driven a number of steps in the opposite direction to provide a con struction of the above character in which the actuated member may take the form of a rack bar having oppositely disposed teeth cotiperating with a double reversing pawl automatically operated by an electric motor or other suitable source of power; to provide a construction which is positive and reliable in its operation and yet simple and economical in construction; to provide a construction which has a wide range of uses and can readily be adapted to any form of mechanism to be driven; and in general to provide a simple and improved construction of the character referred to. p

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the present instance, my improved step by step mechanism is shown as used in connection with an automatic sign, although it is not in anywise limited to such use.

In the drawings Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a sign with which the step by step mechanism is in the present instance used, the slats of the sign being shown in closed position. view, the step by step mechanism being shown in perspective; Fig.3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the lines 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the sign; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, the step by step mechanism is shown in side elevation; Fig.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective.

6 is a fragmentary detailed view of the reversing pawl and actuated rack bar.

In the drawings 1 designates as a whole a hollow sheet metal casing comprising vertical end members 2, horizontally extending side frame members 3 and 4: respectively, and enlarged corner portions 5 projecting over theends of the frame as shown. The inner faces of the horizontally extending members 3 and 4 are closed by means of plates 6 and 7 respectively which serve as base supports for the operating mechanism hereinafter described. The ends of the upper member 6 extend into the enlarged cornerportions 5 forming the floor of the latter as shown more clearly in Fig. 2.

The upper and lower'supporting strips 6 and 7 are mounted upon the edges of a board or board-like support 10, the side faces of which constitute the sign boards as will here inafter appear. As a preferred construction the channel irons 11 are secured to each edge of the board 10 and the base supports secured to the channel iron by bolts 11 as indicated clearly in Fig. 8.

At each side of this board 10 is detachably mounted a series of rotatable slats 9,

their trunnions engaged with supporting bars 12, 12 and these supporting bars are detachably secured to the respective plate members 6 and 7 by bolts as indicated at 13. The ends of the supporting members 12,12 are connected by means of bars 14 (see Fig.

5), so that each set of slats and supports are removable in the form of a rectangular frame. The upper trunnions of the slats extend through and are journaled in the supporting plate 12 as shown clearly in Fig.

8. Each trunnion is provided with a pinion 14:, n0n-rotatably fixed thereon, and confined in position by an endcap 15. The upper supporting member 6 is slotted from each trunnion laterally downward so that the set of slats may be disengaged therefrom. The trunnions at the lower ends of the slats are seated in bearingrecesses 16 forming step bearings.

The sets of slats are moved step by step, so asto perform exactly one-half revolution and back, each half revolution being accom plished in four steps. To impart this-movev ment to the slats, mechanism is provided as follows: Upon the base support 6 is mounted to reciprocate in any suitable guides, 21

. duplex rack-bar 20, provided at its laterally outer edges with rack-teeth which engage with the respective series of pinions of the I ed to receive and guide a downturn ed end of head 26 of an actuating pitman 25. The pitman is at its opposite end connected with a wrist-pin 29 upon a gear 30 forming one member of a train of gears actuated 1n the present instance by an electric motor 27 The driving train referred to comprises a worm-gear 31 mounted directly upon the shaft of the motor armature, an intermediate worm-gear 31, a pinion 32 fast with the worm-gear, and the gear 30 hereinbefore referred to, which connects with the pie man.

Upon the head of the pitman is mounted a reversing awl, designated as a whole 33. This pawl, 1s a bent member provided at each end with pawl-hooks, as 34, 34, and

has a slot-and-pin connection with the pit man head, being provided with a centrally located longitudinally extending slot 35, engaged with a pin 36 carried by the upper 'partof the head of the pitman. Within theslot 35 is arranged a bow-spring 37 which projects into the central portion of the slot in such manner as to tend to hold the supporting pin 36in whichever end o-f-the slot 'it happens to rest until the pawl is shifted positively by engagingwith one end or the other against the corresponding one of the stop shoulders 23 hereinbefore referred to.

In order to'lessen' the friction and mechanical power required to actuate the raclebar,

I prefer to mount the latterto roll back and'forth upon anti-friction bearings, as indicated'jat 39. Inasmuch as the reversing pawl is symmetrical in construction, and the slot 35 thereof centrally located, it will be obvious that whenever the pin 36 is in one end of the slot, the opposite end of the pawl will overweight the other and descend by gravity into engagement with the corres ondeing set of ratchetteeth. Accordingly t 'e pawl will step the rack-bar in one direction, four steps, but upon commencement of the fifth step'the then lower end of the pawl will engage the corresponding stop shoulder, shift the pawl into its reverse position,-whereupon the succeeding revolutions will step the rack-bar in the opposite direction four steps. In order to confine the pitman member in proper engagement with the slot in which it slides, the latter is desirably .made of inverted T-shape in cross section and a guide pin 38 inserted through the engaging end of the pitman head and arranged to engage {the undercutportions of the slot.

Upon the outer faces of each side of the fixed division board 10 are painted orotherwise placed any suitable signs which will be fully displayed'wlien the slats are'standing with their edges at right angles to the plane of said surfaces and the observer is approximately opposite either side of the sign. When the slats are oscillated into various angles with relation to the stationary signboard and the observer is approaching, i. 6., stands at an angle'approXiniately coincident to the oblique angles of the slats, he can also see the stationary sign.

The invention is not limited to the de- I tails of construction shown, except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A step-by-step mechanism comprisinga ratchet member provided with two sets of oppositely disposed ratchet teeth and an intervening guide portion, a reciprocatory pawl actuating member operatively mounted adjacent to said ratchet member and having one end arranged to engage the guide portion of the latter, a double ended gravity pawl member having bodily movable connection with said pawl actuating member, the ends of said pawl member moving in unison, stops upon said ratchet member arranged to "engage said double ended pawl at theend of apredetermined number of movements. of

the ratchet member in each direction to effect the shifting of the pawl actuating member on its movable connection whereby said connection is shifted from one side jto the other of the center of gravity of the pawl operatively engage with said series of ratchet teeth.- 1 2. A step-by-step mechanism comprisinga ratchet block, having ratchet teeth-and provided with a longitudinally extending guide way, a pitman traveling in said guide way, means for actuating said pitman, a pawl member adaptedto engage the teeth of said ratchet member; and means carried by said and said pawl thereby adapted to alternately pawl member for yieldably holding the latter in a given position during a prede term ned movement in the travel of said pitinaii.

3. A step by-step mechanism comprising a ratchetblock, having-two series of oppositely' disposed ratchet teeth andprovided with a longitudinal extending guide-way, a

, pitman having a down-turned end engaging 10 sets of ratchet teeth, a pitman member and .means for driving same, a gravity pawl,

said guide-way, a pawl member mountedon said pitman and having oppositely disposed pawls for engaging said teeth, a spring member for holding said 'double'ended pawl in a given position duringa predetermined travel of the pitman, and means for reversing the position of said pawl member against the action of said spring. 4. A step-by step mechanism comprising a ratchet block having two oppositely disposed structure having teeth at itsends for cooperating with the respective ratchet teeth sets, said gravitypawl structure having 1on- I gitudinally shiftable' pivot connection with said pitman to either side of its center of gravity whereby the. heavier end of said;

pawl will cooperate with the corresponding setof ratchet teeth to shift said ratchet member, and a stop at each: end of said ratchet member for effecting shifting of said pivoted connection at'the end: of a predetermined number ofshiftings of said ratchet 1 member by said pawl. structure.

5. -A step-by-stepmechanism comprising a.

ratchet block having two oppositely disposed sets of ratchet teeth',a pitman member and means for drlvlng same, a gravlty pawl structure having teeth at its; ends fo-r cooperating with the respective ratchetteeth sets, said gravity pawl structure having lon- ;.ingly locking shifting thereof.

gitudinally shiftable pivot connection with "said pitman to either side of its center of gravity whereby the heavier end of said pawl will cooperate with thecorresponding set of ratchet teeth to shift said ratchet member, a stop at each end of said ratchet member for .efiecting shifting of said pivotteeth, a pitman member adjacent said ratchet member, :a pawl beam spannlng between I said ratchet teethsets. and having i pawl teeth at itsends for cooperating with said 3 sets, said pawl beam having a longitudinal slot extending to either side of its center of gravity, a pivot pin extending from said pitman into said slot, a spring within said slot for yieldingly locking said pawl beam when said pin is at the ends of said slot, and

stops on said ratchet member for cooperating with'said pawl beam to effect shifting a thereof on said pivot member. I

MARTIN J. DONER.

Witnesses:

J. M. Ln'rz, o D. C. THORSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtain ed for five'cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents,

. 'Washington,1). G. a 

